POPE HEARS CATHOLIC LAITY`S CASE

Pope John Paul II flew to Detroit Friday night after facing, but generally ignoring, street protests and polite calls for church reforms during a hectic stop in San Francisco.

Before arriving in Detroit, the Pope had held a morning meeting with representatives of the 52 million lay members of the nation`s Roman Catholic Church. At that meeting, Donna Hanson bluntly told John Paul that though American Catholics understand the church is ''not a democracy ruled by popular vote,'' they nevertheless expect to be treated as ''mature, educated and responsible'' adults.

Hanson, who works as the bishop`s secretary for social ministry in the archdiocese of Spokane, implored the pontiff to heed the desires of lay Catholics to take a greater responsibility within the religious body.

''Unity, not division, is our goal,'' she said. ''Service, not power, is our mission.''

She also pointedly told the Pope that Americans often are under the impression that the Vatican is ignoring, even discouraging their ambitions.

''Accustomed as I am to dialogue, consulation and collaboration, I do not always feel that I am heard,'' she told John Paul, whose face had a wooden, tense expression throughout her speech.

''In my cultural experience,'' she added, ''questioning is neither rebellion nor dissent. It is rather a desire to participate and is a sign of both love and maturity.''

The Pope appeared reluctant to respond directly to her remarks, which included a call to the pontiff to set the tone for a church that would be

''more inclusive of women, our inactive clergy, homosexuals, the divorced and all people of color.''

He reaffirmed the church`s traditional understanding of the restricted role for women and of the different and distinct responsibilities and rights that separate the laity from the clergy.

John Paul said the ''special gifts of women'' are necessary for the church, but he did not specifically outline how those gifts can be best employed other than in the act of ''begetting life and in educating their children.''

''All these attitudes can influence our sense of good and evil at the very moment when social and scientific progress requires strong ethical guidance,'' the Pope said. ''It is precisely in this society that lay men and women like yourselves, all the Catholic laity, are called to live the Beatitudes, to become leaven, salt and light for the world.''

The Pope, appearing drawn as he moves toward the end of his 10-day American mission, is expected to deliver a major talk on social justice Saturday in Detroit as a capstone to the tour.

Despite the trip`s wearying pace and frequent expressions of dissent or concern about church teachings, a key papal aide said Friday that the pilgrimage has had a positive impact.

''The impact is great and substantial,'' said Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro Valls.

Navarro contended that Americans focused ''mainly on his person'' during the pontiff`s previous pastoral visit to the U.S., in 1979.

''Now they are focusing on his message,'' Navarro continued.

The Pope, who was confronted by several hundred demonstrators protesting Vatican policies toward homosexuality and Israel, also celebrated a colorful mass in San Francisco`s Candlestick Park on Friday.

In his homily there, John Paul seemed to address the criticism he and his conservative views have received in many precincts of the American church.

''Jesus met with opposition in the message that he preached, and in the all-embracing love that he offered to everyone,'' the Pope declared.

''Therefore it should not surprise us if, in our efforts to be faithful to Christ`s teachings, we meet with criticism, ridicule or rejection.''

The Pope`s appearance at Candlestick Park drew a cheering capacity crowd of more than 70,000. Unlike the smaller-than-expected crowds along parade routes during the Pope`s tour, his stadium masses have been packed.

The Pope presided over Friday`s service on an ornate stage built specifically for the mass completely of materials produced in California.

The 67-year-old pontiff was beginning to show some signs of his arduous U.S. trip. His eyes looked tired and his speech was slightly more halting than usual.